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Syllabus2010

New Interfaces for Musical Expression

  • Fall 2010 - Tuesdays 6:30-9:00pm
  • Instructor: Greg Shakar
  • Office Hours: Resident Researchers and Greg by Appointment

Assignments and Readings

While the central purpose of this class is to produce and perform an instrument, there are a number of assignments and readings that are also required. These are designed to bring clarity, structure, and inspiration to the process. The assignments and readings are always due the week after they are assigned (i.e. the next class).

Workshopping

In order to support an iterative instrument-design and composition process, everyone is encouraged to bring works-in-progress to class each week for demonstration and feedback. Also helpful will be questions, thoughts and discoveries for us to discuss as a group.

Preparing for the show

One of our collective tasks for the semester will be preparing for the concert at the end of the semester. There will be a number of tasks to be taken care of, including choosing a venue, making a poster, creating a program, promotion, etc.

Performance Critique

Frequently, we will watch a performance then critique it. The point is to focus on what is happening in the performance rather than whether we liked it or not. The discussion can cover any topic, with the emphasis being on what can be gleaned about music composition and performance. Rather than statements like, “I liked it” or “it sucked,” focus should be placed on the the factors that contribute to your aesthetic reaction. The composition, timbres, the performance itself, how the parts relate to the whole, whether the gestures fit with the sound, etc. This kind of critical mindset can be very valuable for developing a keen sense of listening, though it can be a bit difficult to learn at first.

Performance Plan

Starting on week 9, create your performance plan. The key idea is to map out how your performance will proceed – how it will begin, how it will unfold, and how it will end. This material needs to be handed in on paper. Use the performance planning strategy that makes the most sense for your piece and for your instrument.

  • a graphic representation of the timeline or event possibilities for you to follow during your performance.
  • a traditionally notated score, or variation on traditional music notation (including devising your own notation scheme for your instrument).
  • a bullet point list describing the sequence of events you want to move through during the performance, articulating particularly the beginning and end.
  • or create your own notion of what a score could be, (as long as you speak to its validity as a performance planning tool).

BE ABLE to close your eyes and walk through your whole performance from pre-beginning to post-end. Rehearse it on the subway train, when you’re walking. The key for each rehearsal, real or imagined, is maintaining continuity. Do not stop or let it be interrupted. It can fast or glacially slow, but it must be continuous.

Grading Criteria:

  • Punctual and regular attendance at class meetings
  • Level of participation in class discussion
  • Quality and timeliness of assignments
  • Ability to collaborate responsibly with other classmates
  • Creativity and inventiveness of final musical instrument prototype
  • Performing in the NIME concert is required for a passing grade.

Laptops in Class

Laptops are awesome, but they are very effective instruments of distraction. Everyone benefits if we all pay attention. In general, when you use your laptop during class it should be in order to support or enhance the class experience. During discussions and when your fellow students are talking, please be respectful of everyone's time and sense-of-purpose and close the lid. If you are using your laptop, you may be asked to close the lid.

Weeks 1-6: Concept Development

(9/7) Week 1: The Role of Music in Everyday Life

Introductions. Info about the class. Discussion about building instruments in one week. Discussion about the elements of musical composition.

Performance Critique: Michael Waisvisz - the Hands, @ NIME'03 in Montreal

Performance Critique: Ariel Nevarez - Mimbre, @ ITP NIME SHOW '09 in Brooklyn

(9/14) Week 2: Musical Instrument presentations.

Also: Overview of physics of sound. Discussion of the Theremin.

  • Assignment
    • "Inspirational Sounds": Bring a one minute audio clip of music it to share with the class. This can be music that you use for a specific purpose or task, or it can simply be music that you find compelling. Most importantly, be prepared to explain why you find this music inspiring. Try to identify the qualities that appeal to you or that make it well suited to the purpose for which you use it.
    • (Due week4) Create another instrument and compose a one minute piece of music for it. It may help to use this assignment as a sketch or experiment towards designing the instrument you will ultimately be building for the show at the end of the semester. You have the option of working in groups.
  • Readings

(9/21) Week 3: Introduction to Pure Data (PD)

... with special guest Hans-Christoph Steiner.

Bring your laptops to class and make sure you have PD installed beforehand:
Here's where to download Pd, download "Pd-extended": http://puredata.info/downloads

Performance Critique: Scribble

  • Assignment
    • (Continued from previous week.) Create another instrument and compose a one minute piece of music for it. It may help to use this assignment as a sketch or experiment towards designing the instrument you will ultimately be building for the show at the end of the semester. You have the option of working in groups.
  • Readings
    • Unpublished interview with Bill Verplank, Center for the Computer Research and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford BillVerplankPRIMER.pdf

(9/28) Week 4: Presentations of your musical instruments.

Discussion about the upcoming concept Presentations.

Also: We look at the larger ‘problem’ of human computer interaction design, set in the context of the history of human factors engineering. We consider Bill Verplank’s progression of design systems that better factor in human participation from making them safe to effective to efficient to satisfying. We then look at the special challenges of musical interface design, and the difference between “button” and “handle” controls.

Performance Critique: Wheel Experience - Younnat [3min]

  • Assignment
    • Concept Presentations for group 1

(10/5) Week 5: Concept Presentations 1

This class is devoted to 1/2 of the classes’ concept presentations. Students in the class present the idea they will be implementing during the term. Each presentation will be limited to 15 minutes.

Performance Critique: Effet Papillon - Mylene Benoit / Cie Contour Progressif (local mirror) [9min]

  • Assignment
    • Concept Presentations for group 2

(10/12) Week 6: Concept Presentations 2

This class is devoted to 1/2 of the classes’ concept presentations. Students in the class present the idea they will be implementing during the term. Each presentation will be limited to 15 minutes.

(10/19) Week 7:

Guest Presentation: Lesley Flanigan

After hearing the class presentations from the last two weeks, we respond to the ideas, with case studies of similar directions, different approaches to implementation.

Performance Critique: Daedelus - Live in San Antonio - Outtro (local mirror) [2min]

  • Assignment to be handed in on paper at the beginning of class on Oct 26
    • Write a paragraph that explains the current state of your project. What do you have so far? What is left to be done? What challenges remain? What are the unknowns?

Weeks 8 - 11: Prototype Development

(10/26) Week 8: Physical Computing for NIME

Guest Presentation: Tristan Perich

Physical computing methods for getting the full potential out of sensors and responsive outputs from electronics.

Performance Critique:

(11/2) Week 9: Studio Class – Performance Planning

Guest Presentation: Miller Puckette

Brief Prototype show and tell
Initial Prototypes are due. Bring your prototype to class and give a brief demo. Or you can show a video of your prototype in action.

  • Assignment
    • Prototype Presentations for group 1

(11/9) Week 10: Prototype Presentations 1

In this class, students will give presentations of their musical interface prototypes, in a forum for class/instructor evaluation and feedback. Half of the class will present this week.

Guest Critics:

Presenters:

  • Sarah
  • Mike
  • Chris
  • Michelle
  • Tamar
  • Leo & Teki

Performance Critique: reacTable: improvisation demo

  • Assignment
    • Prototype Presentations for group 2

(11/16) Week 11: Prototype Presentations 2

In this class, students will give presentations of their musical interface prototypes, in a forum for class/instructor evaluation and feedback. The other half of the class will present this week.

Guest Critics:

Presenters:

  • Igal
  • Andrew
  • Sofy
  • Joshua
  • Julio
  • Eric
  • Patrick
  • Lucas

Performance Critique: vienna vegetable orchestra

Weeks 12-14: Build It!

(11/23) Week 12: Workshop

  • Assignment
    • Performance Plan / Composition Assignment - - due Dec 7th, handed in on paper

Full class workshop.

(11/30) Week 13: Work-in-Progress Review

Progress review, job assignments, staging discussion, workshoping.

(12/7) Week 14: Dress Rehearsal 6:30-midnight

All NIME projects are required to be on the ITP floor during this period. We will review each project, assess all staging and technical requirements for the performance, and gather information to generate the running order for the final show. NOTE: You can have your project anywhere you want on the floor - it must be functioning and making sound. We will do a full run-through of concert. Pizza will be served.

MANDATORY PERFORMANCE AT PUBLIC VENUE on December 14

This will require you to be available all day.

The performance is scheduled for Tuesday, 12/14, 8-11pm: http://itp.nyu.edu/nime/show

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